Method for circulating a report in a semiconductor manufacturing environment

• US 8,055,714 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Wan, Mabel, Ming Tai, Chuang, Leu, Jennifer, Chiu, Chien-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDY
• Application Number:
  US10/821,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,770 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/246, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-implemented method for circulating a file associated with the manufacture of a semiconductor product. The computer-implemented method may include choosing at least one input file, choosing an output file format, choosing a mode for circulation, extracting file information to the output file, and circulating the output file to at least one recipient.

Claims

1. In a semiconductor manufacturing environment with a plurality of separate entities, a computer-implemented method for circulating a file between the entities comprising:

selecting at least one of a plurality of input files;

selecting an output file format from a plurality of output file formats;

selecting a mode for circulation from a plurality of modes for circulation;

extracting by a computer file information from the selected at least one input file to an output file in the selected output file format; and

circulating by the computer the output file to at least one recipient entity using the selected mode for circulation.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input file comprises a product manufacturing report from a semiconductor foundry.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising converting by the computer the at least one input file to a different file format prior to the extracting.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mode for circulation comprises e-mail.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mode for circulation comprises facsimile.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mode for circulation comprises a wireless device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input file comprises at least two input files.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mode for circulation comprises sending an e-mail to at least two different entities, the at least two different entities having different e-mail systems.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mode for circulation comprises sending an e-mail to at least one entity, and sending a facsimile to at least one other entity, the at least one other entity being at a different location than the at least one entity.

10. A computer-implemented method for circulating a file associated with the manufacture or sale of semiconductor devices, the method comprising:

closing by a computer an application file responsive to a user request;

querying the user by the computer if the application file is to be circulated;

if the application file is to be circulated, checking and determining by the computer the application file type;

preparing by the computer the application file for circulation, wherein the preparing comprises converting the application file to another application file type if necessary; and

circulating by the computer the output file to at least one recipient using a selected one of a plurality of circulation modes.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the application file comprises a product manufacturing report from a semiconductor foundry.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein preparing the application file comprises converting the application file to a different file format.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein a mode for circulating comprises e-mail.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein a mode for circulating comprises facsimile.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein a mode for circulating comprises a wireless device.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the application file comprises at least two separate application files.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein circulating comprises sending an e-mail to at least two different users, the at least two different users having different e-mail systems.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein circulating comprises sending an e-mail to at least one user, and sending a facsimile to at least one other user, the at least one other user at a different location than the at least one user.

19. A system for circulating a file, the system comprising:

a virtual fabrication system comprising a plurality of components located in at least two different locations, the components connected by a network;

a memory system connected to the network configured to store files regarding the operation of the virtual fabrication system;

a communication system connected to the network, and configured to extract data from at least one input file to an output file having a format selected from one of a plurality of file formats and circulate the output file to a plurality of recipients using a selected one of a plurlaity of modes for circulation.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one input file comprises a product manufacturing report from a semiconductor foundry.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication system is adapted to convert the at least one input file to a different file format.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication system is adapted to send emails.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication system is adapted to send facsimiles.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication system is adapted to send the files to a wireless device.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication system is adapted to send emails and facsimiles.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication system is adapted to send emails, facsimiles, and files to a wireless device.